Nineveh (Iraqinews.com) – Iraqi security forces killed on Wednesday six Islamic State militants during a combing operation south of Mosul city, a deputy military commander said.

Speaking to Radio Sawa on Wednesday, Deputy Commander of Nineveh Operations Major General Ahmed Bahgat said, “Acting upon intelligence reports, security forces launched a combing operation at an island in the center of the Tigris River south of Mosul city, killing six Islamic State militants.”

“The troops also seized several explosive belts and light weapons at the scene,” Bahgat added.

Earlier in the day, three Iraqi lawyers were shot dead by Islamic State militants on a road between Hamam al-Alil and Mosul cities south of Nineveh.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared in July victory over IS militants who had held the second largest Iraqi city of Mosul since 2014. In December, Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.

Thousands of IS militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since a government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and a U.S.-led international coalition, was launched in October 2016 to fight the militant group, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.

Since then, forces took back the group’s former capital, Mosul, the town of Tal Afar, Kirkuk’s Hawija, and each of Annah, Rawa and Qaim in Anbar.

The war against IS has displaced nearly five million people, with tens of thousands of civilians and militants killed since the launch of the offensives to recapture occupied cities.